This model was my entry for the Golden Gobbos painting competition over at the BLOOD forums. Each entry had to include a back story and game rules for the character submitted. Here’s mine, with extra cheese!

Helmut and canine compadres

Deep in the forests of the northern parts of The Riding, a terrible warrior is rumoured to harry the roads. He is said to have scores of wolves at his command, aiding him in his quest for reckless destruction and death. His name is Helmut Wulverskin, and he is in fact a rather wealthy albeit confused man.

As the only heir of merchant Knut Wulverskin (of the Averridge Wulverskins), Helmut was destined for greatness. Alas, destiny did not count on Helmut’s uncle Kurt Wulverskin and his ambition for riches. A dark and stormy night, hired thugs burst into the sleeping quarters of Knut Wulverskin and assassinated the merchant and his wife. Helmut was rescued though, as the infant boy was carried off to safety by his mother’s wolf familiar.

Helmut was raised by a wolfpack deep in the dark forests surrounding Stillburg. For the next 10 years he had no human contact. That changed when a wizened old crone, who would talk to the beasts in their own tongue, visited the pack. She took the boy under her wings and regularily visited, to teach him in the ways of man.

From her, he learned of his true heritage and swore to seek vengeance on the great injustice wrought on him and his family. As a young man, after a decade of training, he set out on a quest for revenge. His first stop was Averridge and the estate of good old uncle Kurt. Apart from gruesome vengeance being exacted, Helmut learned the name and location of the actual perpetrator of the murders. He also recovered his father’s plate armour and old warhammer. The suit of armour includes a magic wolf-pelt, giving command over animals, further enhancing Helmut’s already unnaturally strong bond with his lupine brethren.

The murderer of Helmut’s parents had risen to power, as a favoured champion of the Chaos god Tzeentch. After the fierce battle that ultimately lead to Helmut avenging his parents, Helmut was so badly injured that he very nearly died. He never recovered, and probably suffered one too many blows to his head, as he is still stamping out evil and servants of Chaos where ever he can find them. It’s just a pity that he so often finds them amongst small children on school excursions, in merchant caravans or pilgrimages to and from the Shrine of Gadd.

His estate stands unattended in Averridge, and he was most recently spotted heading for Badwater north of Stillburg talking to himself about a gang of chaos worshippers who had attacked a peaceful envoy from Nippon.

Stats for Warhammer Fantasy Battles, 3rd edition

Helmut Wulverskin – Level 10 Human Hero (80 pts)Helmut is armed with a double-handed weapon and is wearing heavy armour. He is Neutral and hate chaotic and evil

M WS BS S T W I A Ld Int Cl WP
4 5 4 4 4 2 4 3 8+1 7 7 7

While an accomplished fighter Helmut isn’t a very dependable ally. Roll a D6 each turn. On a 1, he is overcome by delusions and control of Helmut and his unit passes to the GM for the rest of the game. Helmut must charge and attack the nearest non-animal unit with gusto, as he has seen the taint of chaos on their poor souls.

Helmut can only be included in warbands and armies containing no Evil or Chaotic units.

When deploying Helmut, he is deployed together with 1D6+2 of his pack mates (counts as regular Giant Wolves, but with Helmut as animal handler and no riders).Stats for Song of Blades & Heroes

Helmut Wulverskin – Human Knight. 39 pts. Q4+, C4. Beastmaster, Animal Handler, Insane.
Special rules: When including Helmut Wulverskin in a warband, a Wolf (Q4, C3, Animal) may be included for free. For victory points calculations, this wolf is worth 19 points but does not count against the grand total value of the warband.

Insane (-5 pts):
After rolling activation dice for an Insane model, also roll 1D6. On a roll of 1, control of the model is temporarily given to the controlling player’s opponent who decide how to use any successful activations . The Insane model is overcome by delusions, and turn on his allies. Control of the model is then relinquished by the opponent and returns to the original controller.